A brilliant guide to understanding codependence, this new edition reflects over 15 years of research and clinical work at The Meadows Treatment Center. Internationally recognized authority on childhood trauma, codependence, and addiction Pia Mellody creates a framework for identifying codependent thinking, emotions, and behavior and provides an effective approach to recovery. Mellody sets forth five primary adult symptoms of this crippling condition, then traces their origin to emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and sexual abuses that occur in childhood. Central to Mellody’s approach is the concept that the codependent person requires healing from trauma inflicted in childhood. Recovery from codependence, therefore, involves both clearing up the toxic emotions left over from these painful childhood experiences, as well as learning to intervene in one’s own adult symptoms of codependence.